Wall construction



Sept. 14, 1943. F.3LA GROTTA 2,329,542

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 13, 1940 a Sheets-Sheet 1 0 0 v o r 00 0 0 v I'NVENTOR Iran/v la yrotta Z ,am QMK M ATTdRNEYS Sept. 14; 1943. .F. LA GROTTA v 2,329,542

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan 13, 1940 Sheetsheet 2 INVENTOR I'rank flayrofia Patented Sept. 14, 1943 Frank La Gretta, New York, N. Y., assignor to ConverSteel & Wire 00., Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,734

Claims. (01. 72-46) This invention relates to a wall construction and is particularlydirected to a frame which may be constructed-entirely of metal, may be pre-fabricated, may be shipped in a knocked down condition, may be "easily assembledand may be so installed and assembled that it will accommodate the normalservice mains regardless of their positions and yet will positively maintain the necessary-rigidity.

In the drawings: 3 I

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, ofsuch a wall frame wherein are disclosed a base, channel studs and a top runner;

Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view on line 22 of Figure 1, partly broken away and en'- larged;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2; 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a furring and spacer clip;

Figure 5 is a vfragmentary perspective view partly broken away of. a modified form of the base; i Figure 6 is a section on lines 6- -6 of Figure 5; and I I Figure '7 is a section on lines l'! of Figure 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a base is provided which includes runners that are in the form of strips I. These strips are formed, preferably, of metal. The strips are in spaced relation to each other and are held in this spaced relation by clips 2 that are suitably secured to the strips I as by welding, for instance. These clips 2 are arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of the base, providing spaces therebetween for a purpose that will later be described. The upper edges of the strips l are not secured permanently together but are secured in definite spaced relation by spacer clips.

Each of these clips includes a body portion 3, the end portions 4 of which extend at angles to the body portion. Tongues 5 extend from the body portion 3 at an ou'twardangle thereto. These spacer clips are formed preferably of metal and the tongues 5 are resilient for a purpose that later will be described.

At the upper edges of the runners flanges 6 are formed. These flanges extend inwardly toward each other and at an angle to the runners.

The flanges 6 in addition to extending inwardly extend downwardly and have spaced apertures 1 therein that, extend longitudinally of the flanges and are adapted to receive the tongues 5 of the spacer clips.

, Openings 8 that are adapted to receive the wall studs are provided in the spacer clips and each is arranged preferably closer to one-end of the clip than the other.

In constructing this base of metal the runners may of course be rolled and the clips 2 secured thereto by welding while the spacer clips may be produced by stamping. Thus the simplest operations are employed in the production of the base, reducing the cost of production to the minimum. y

The base with the spacer clip removed therefrom may bev shipped'to the construction where it is to be used. The base may be secured to the foundation, such as a floor, beam or the like by nailing or similarly securing the same thereto through the holes in the clips 2.

The spacer clips may then be attached to the runners I by inserting the tongues 5 through the apertures 1 in the flanges 6. When thus inserted the angular ends 4 of the spacer clips will engage the faces of the flanges 6 and the shoulders at the ends of the clips will engage the flanges to prevent the runners from moving toward each other. The tongues 5 will resiliently engage the runners at the points of contact between the runners and the ends of the tongues. This engagement will hold the spacer clips firmly in position and will prevent the runners from moving away from each other.

The wall studs are inserted in the openings 8 in the spacer clips and are thus positioned at their lower ends. The upper. ends of the wall studs are positioned by insertion in openings ID in a top runner that is adapted to be secured to or adjacent the ceiling. This top runner includes a horizontal web I l in which the openings [0 are provided, a horizontal web l2 for attachment to the ceiling or the like and an intermediate web 13 joining the other two webs together. The purpose of offsetting the opening 8 in the spacer clip is so that when the lathing is secured to the wall studs it will be as nearly as possible in the middle of the ultimate wall. I

With this construction the spacer clips may be shifted as required to accommodate service mains, such as pipes, wires, etc., that pass upwardly through the ultimate wall, and of course if necessary certain of the clips 2 may be removed without disturbing the unity of the construction.

In the above description I have referred to the use of the invention in a partition wall but the invention is also applicable to a furring. In the latter case one of the rumors I may be omitted and the remainder of the base with its associated parts used, in which event the ends of the clips 2 and the free tongues 5 of the spacer clips will engage and bear against the base wall such for end of each clip [4 a portion I 6 is bent at an angle and is provided with a hole for a securing element such as a nail orscrew. Thus the runners I will be secured together and to the floor by the spacer and fastener clips l4 and as these clips may be shifted longitudinally of the base at will and to any desired extent during installation they may be accommodated to these'rvice mainshereinbefore referred to. 7

Clips 3 of a constructionsimilar to that of the spacer clips hereinbefor described inconnection with Figures 1 to 4 are provided in the form of the invention illustrated inFigures-fito -7, and are assembled with the runners in a similar manner. When thus assembled they will accommodate the wall studs and because of their resilient engagement with the runners will maintain the whole assembly in tight relationship.

Thus I have provided a frame for awall construction that may be made entirely of; metal by the simplest manufacturing operations, one which may be shipped in a knocked.- down-condition and one which may easily be assembledone t.

which may be soadjusted in assembling that the service mains may be accommodatedre'gardless of their position and onein which the-wall studs may be located at the will ofthe installer.

While I have described particular embodiments tured flanges at their upper edges, spacer and fastener clips having tongues extending into the said apertures and resiliently engaging the inner walls of the runners to maintain the clips in position and to normally urge the runners apart.

2. In a metallic baseboard construction, spaced runners having inwardly and downwardly turned apertured flanges at their upper edges, spacer and fastener olipsmciudmg body portions and upwardiyturnedend omens engagin the downwardly turned flanges, and resilient tongues extending through said apertures and resiliently engaging the inner walls of the runners.

3. In a baseboard construction, spaced runners having inwardly-turned apertured flanges at their upper edges; means for securing the lower edges together, and spacer and fastener clips including body'poi tions bridging the space between said flanges and resilient tongues engaging in said apertures and resiliently engaging the inner walls of said runners, the'distarrce between the endsof said tongues being normally greater than the distance between the inner faces of said runners.

4. .In a metallic baseboard construction, a pair of spaced runnershaving inwardly turned apertured flanges at their upper edges, spacer and fastener clips having tongues extending into the said apertures and resiliently engaging the inner walls of the runners to maintain the clips in position and to normally urge the runners apart, and means for securing; the lower edges of the runners in spaced relation.

5. In ametallic baseboard construction, spaced runners having inwardly and downwardly turned apertured flanges at their upper edges and: inwardly and upwardly turned 'fian'ges at their lower edges, spacer and fastener clips shaving tongues extending, through saidapertures-in the upper flanges and resiliently engagingithe inner faces of the runners, spacer clipsextending .between the-runners-andhaving ears engaging the said inwardly turned flanges, and means for se'- curing the-lower edges. of the-runnersto'the fl'oo of a building construction.

LA ,GRGTTA. 

